I checked all my local nail supply stores, none of them got their shipments of the OPI or Essie matte collections yet. I even checked pharmacies thinking maybe one of the drugstore brands knocked it off. Nope.
My next strategic move will be the Mac store tomorrow on a hot tip from my fabulous friend Lindsay Hearts.
I refuse to get my nails done 'til I find it because I WANT WHAT I WANT!
Here, finally are some pictures of the ring from Dragon Weave. Also, I made trousers with knee pads (and cat hair). For those times when... I dunno, you fall over?
I know I know, sausage fingers, there are many valid reasons why I'm not a hand (or leg) model.

I'm not going to pretend I understand 3D models, but from what I gather, you design something, in 3D and it is then created by machine in the material of your choice. It is "an additive manufacturing process whereby one machine turns a digital file into a finished physical object by building up that object layer by layer."
Or something.
Anyway, Shapeways is a site where you can go, view various renderings, and sometimes pictures of finished pieces, and order them for yourself. It seems as though you can also design your own things on there as well as collaborate with designers on custom pieces.
I've only looked at jewelry but they have lots of different categories.

I'm really posting this link as a reminder to myself so that when, after washing 3 layers of colour out of my hair I look down at my hands and go 'where did the years go?' I can then be reminded that I read a really good review for some hand cream and maybe I should stop by the Estee Lauder counter and pick some up.
Also, you may notice my blog has a more minimalist feel to it now... I was starting to feel a bit high school with the other one, and I think we all know those days are long gone. (see previous paragraph R.E. hand cream)
Speaking of hands, I'm thinking of getting my nails done as a little gift to myself for A. Successfully selling my second Louis Vuitton bag on Ebay and B. Offloading some emotional baggage from my basement to the tune of $150.
I'm feeling this matte polish trend, and I'm thinking I'll stop by my beauty supply tomorrow before hitting the salon, because I'm almost positive the nail places around my house do not concern themselves with such frivolities as new innovations in their chosen field.
And I mean that in the nicest possible way.

Just to slap myself back to reality, here's something I want but can't afford. Neither morally, nor financially.
Balmain washed leather cargo trousers, available at Luisa Via Roma for a very reasonable $5817.60.



The shoes are abominations, though.

I'd like to introduce you to Charlie. Charlie has made his home with my friend Kalah, he is an adopted stray from West Philadelphia. If you know Charlie then you already love him. He is The Keeper Of The Bathroom. He hangs out in there ready for cuddles whenever you see fit to visit him. If you sit down to pee, he'll sit in your lap and make sure everything goes well for you, so it seems ironic that the point of this post is to to ask your help for Charlie's own bathroom troubles. He would do the same for you.
Last month he had to be taken to the vet because he was having trouble using his litter box, he was given a course of antibiotics and urinalysis. Ok, $180, it's a blow but some belt tightening and things will be ok. The following month (yesterday) Charlie started peeing blood and had to go back to the vet. More antibiotics, more tests, special food and another $200 in the hole. Tonight he was rushed to the ER with a full on urinary blockage and vomiting so we are looking at $650 for his overnight stay, catheterization and fluids. That's a total of $1030 and that doesn't even account for the possibility of needing another day with his catheter and fluids, which is common in these cases and will run about another $300.
We were told at the ER, if you can't afford your pets you need to just have them put to sleep. Anyone with four legged companions of their own knows that's not an option, and so here I am, posting Charlie's story and asking for your help. If you have even $1 to spare, please consider sending it to Kalah to help with his medical bills, he's the sweetest natured cat you'll ever meet and deserves to live to fight another day, defending the bathroom and all those who pee in it.

To help, please go to Paypal and use kalahwatters@gmail.com for your donations.

This is Wicket.
Wicket has been with me ten years.
He's a brat, he requires constant attention, and does really really annoying things all the time, but you know why I keep him around?
Because his fat little body is shaped exactly like a butter bean, and he lets me use him as a pillow.

Four new things from my favourite Etsy store are winging their way to me.
I <3 that store!
Also, sometime between dropping my friend at their house, and answering the door to some people from Craigslist, I lost my voice. Like, it's gone. Only a hoarse whisper comes out, occasionally punctuated with sort of a snotty gurgle.
It's seriously attractive, I'm thinking of hitting the local bar and seeing if I can get some 'take-out' ifyouknowhatimean... (no)

These pictures from the Auslander AW 10 catwalk have me wanting to make some kind of little studded hand thingy, I'm pretty sure that could be faux leatherized easily.
I am also really into their armadilloesque epaulets. I can't wait to get unpacked at my new home so I can throw down some pleather and get crafting!

I've had these dark t-shirt transfers which I've been wanting to try out for a while now, so I took a picture of a pole dancer doing 'the inverted crucifix' reversed her colours, cut her out in the shape of an upside down cross and printed her out.
I am pretty impressed with these transfers, it's been a while since I've tried any of the iron-on t shirt stuff, it didn't used to be very good, but this is a whole different animal.
You print out your picture, cut it out, peel off the backing paper, which leaves you with something that feels like one of those window statics, then you cover it with the sheet of transfer paper and iron it on. Simple. It worked really well and the image looks good. It is definitely *on* the shirt, as in, it feels kind of rubbery and is clearly not a print. I have a feeling it will start to wear pretty quickly, though, and look like it's been on there for thirty years after a dozen washes. We shall see.
I used this tank from Urban Outfitters, took in the sides a bit because I had to order a medium and it was more of a 'relaxed fit' than expected, then I cut the arm holes bigger & edged them in black... I didn't have brown.
So, that's what I did this morning. Ok, on to the packing!

So, these Shin trousers from their SS/10 collection are really doing it for me. I don't know, first, and most importantly they look really comfortable, and second, their line isn't really overpriced. Still totally out of my budget since I've decided to move back to one of the most expensive cities in the U.S. but they are nice. And I like them.
(... that means I'm going to make my own version, obviously)



Tomorrow, more mailing, official phone calls and forcible grooming of Pieface's undercarriage.
(Don't worry, I took out the Pie-Pone after the picture, you and I both know it would be a dreadlock within 45 seconds if I hadn't.)

Today I decided it was time to catch up on the blogs I follow. My newsreader had about six hundred posts backed up (I tend to put it on the back burner when I have other things taking up my limited headspace) so I thought I'd just do a links post of all the stories that caught my attention one way or another:

Did you know how much an average Oscar night look costs? I knew it was a lot, but wow!
Drugstore brand fave, Goody are jumping on the Bumpit bandwagon with their own version. I kind of want to try one of these things, even though I know I'd feel dirty afterwards.
This story represents everything that can be so wrong about the fashionable mindset. So strange and sad.
I LOVE this stop-motion editorial shot by Pamela Reed and Matthew Rader for 160g Magazine.
Like the people at Refinery29 I think I just fell a little bit in love with this blogger. I seriously read his stories for at least an hour or so while drinking my two morning cups of tea.
These vintage Nina Ricci sunglasses are exactly what I need this summer. Hard to tell if they're big enough, though without a point of reference.
Via Haute Macabre, this companion parrot necklace and 'poison ring of the future' are so good!
Via Sleep Deprivation..., The Cast are opening a new store on Orchard. Cannot wait to get back to NY where all the good stuff happens!
I think Victoria Brito is so beautiful.
I am into these tee shirts at Etsy store Silent Shout.
Modcloth is a good place to find the odd pair of non-leather shoes. Right now I like these. But ohhh... four inches is pushing it. Eh, fuck it, I'm moving back to NY, I can do what I want!
I am really impressed with this new site, 3floz it's basically a toiletries shopping site where everything is carry-on size! Genius. I will be making some purchases before my next trip back to The Motherland.
This is terrible news! My favourite Brooklyn bagel place will have to move when their lease is up because their rent will be doubled! What will I do? No more $3 sundried tomato tofu cream cheese sunflower seed bagels. FML.
I really want to check out this market. Looks like it'd be good for scoring vintage sunglasses. IN THE FLESH.
This Vice don't made me laugh so much, I think it's the foot part.
And lastly, I would like to check out the Ryan McGinley show, which opened yesterday.

Here's the video I did Kendra's hair for finally!

Green smoothies. How can you taste so divine and yet look like caterpillar poo?
Its true, though. They look absolutely foul, and this is coming from a 7 year vegan, 21 year vegetarian who inhales brussels sprouts like she'll wake up ten years younger.
I have recently made the foray into said smoothies, because despite reading of their health and beauty benefits for ohhh, nine hundred years I never made that leap. Until now. I don't know what tipped me over the edge... maybe the need for extra justification to buy a Vitamix (did you know it is so powerful it actually breaks down the cell walls of the greens making them easier to digest and absorb?) maybe it was too many hours lying awake at night wondering how much sleep medication you can take before it becomes an actual 'overdose' or maybe it was just one of those things I had to think about for years before I did it. Either way, I'm glad I did.
I am obviously a green smoothie n00b, and my blender is pitiful and won't crush ice or anything fancy like that, so for now my recipes are basic and are usually a banana, plus a handful of some kind of berry and then about 4 or 5 cups of spinach, or romaine lettuce or something, some water to stop it needing a spoon for consumption and yeah, that's it.
I don't know if I'm feeling The Benefits yet, but it's certainly making me feel virtuous and like I'm worthy of some kind of treat... like Giles Deacon cat eye sunglasses, or flowers from a stranger.
Pretty sure I know which one of those is more likely... and those sunglasses aren't even for SALE!

The other day, my good friend Ms Rachel Timmins texted me that she was considering giving Supercuts her esteemed business. I said 'The fuck you are! I'm driving out there to save you from yourself' and today that is what happened. I drove to Baltimore and did just that.
I am stealing these pictures from her blog (I'm a thief, ask Glamour Garage) because we failed at taking actual pictures... we're awkward and we go rigid and strangely miserable as soon as the camera is on us... sorry Matt, I know you did your best. Kind of ridiculous since we're grown women, but there you have it.
This is the only evidence so far that I have created another warrior for my army. You know it's about to get serious when someone turns to me and whispers those special, sacred words; 'do what you want.... oh, and I'm not opposed to asymmetry'
A girl doesn't need much more encouragement than that! Rest assured, Ms Timmins will be attending SNAG with The Best Haircut In The Building. It is the perfect combo of devil-may-care 'oh, I have an actual style? well I just don't pay that much attention' nonchalance and horn-skimming expertise. Ladies and Gentlemen, we have a winner!
Anyway, things may be coming together for NY even better than I thought, I had a 'down' moment yesterday... y'know when you're deep in the bowels of a PMS induced sobbing marathon and your eyes are so swollen you can't see, and you're all dehydrated and snotty, and you know you're going to feel great when you wake up the next day but right now it's just. the. worst. ever?
Well, it was like that but worse. Yesterday it seemed like the powers that be were all saying 'pack up your silly little things, sell your cats for $5 a pound and get thee back to England where you belong', but today dawned bright, sunny and full of new text messages. I am back on track and this year may be the best yet!

Ps. I think it's pretty funny that Rachel and I both referred to each other as 'Ms' in our blog entries.

Pps. I tried my new Glittersniffer 'Jennifer Nazi' eye pigment and it is INCREDIBLE. It is the perfect bike-accident-bruise colour. I look like I've been up all night listening to King Diamond and beating myself in the face with a bottle of Raspberry Stoli. In short, I love it.

My love affair with New York, Part deux.
You know that part in Sex and the City (No, I won't apologise) where Carrie says the city is her boyfriend? Well, that's how I feel.
Columbus is not on the cards, and so there is no need for all my hard work in being positive about it because you know what IS on the cards? New York in the summertime!
I have decided to downsize my life and return to my One True Love. If you know me you'll know I like to throw things away, I find it cathartic. I am not sentimentally attached to objects, they just don't do it for me. I'm a little sad to see the back of my couch since it is so damn comfortable, but eh... needs must where needs arise, maybe I can keep part of it but I doubt it would make it up most Brooklyn staircases, so probably not.
Anyway, I have been making a list of 'non negotiable items' hereafter referred to as NNI. So far, my NNI include: The bed, the kitty castle, sewing machine & serger, small craft table, mannequin, bike and large mirror. With only these things it should be easy to fit me and my three furry friends into a studio apartment. (I have a plan, but don't want to out myself here in case I jinx it. Suffice to say it would be the Best Day Ever if it panned out)
I have also been thinking of ways to minimise the way I do other things. For example, I can get rid of most of my kitchen appliances if I get a Vitamix. I can get rid of my desktop if I get a laptop. I think you see where I am going with this. Joy and I were at Whisk on Bedford Ave the other day and it had many covetable and miniature items. I can't wait to get rid of old stuff and buy new stuff. I have two months to sell pretty much everything I own and make a new start. I wish I could find someone to give me one lump sum for all these damn vinyl toys I have, maybe I should just list it on Ebay and see what happens, I can't heave this shit around wih me any longer, it has to go. Maybe $800 for the lot, that should get some takers... it would cost thousands to buy all that stuff again.
Anyway, I digress, the point of this post is simple; New Beginnings. One door closes, another one opens and other similar cliches. I am really excited to get back to New York, things were just starting to happen for me when I left and I hope I can keep the ball rolling this time. I don't want any Red Hook or Bushwick-like location based mistakes this time, I want The Best Experience possible and I really think I can make that happen this time. Onward and upwards, as they say!

Bess was one of those stores I used to like to go and poke around in, but with prices starting at $150 for a sleeveless top and going on up to about $1500 for a studded leather jacket it was always a little out of my league, especially since what they do a lot of the time is stud vintage pieces, which is nice because you get a genuine vintage feel, but annoying because shit, it's a studded vintage leather jacket and it's $1500.
(I feel like I shouldn't have to mention every time I talk about coveting leather items that I covet them only because I want to knock them off with faux leather, but I'll say it again here just because Bess carry so much of it)
They also used to have these really cool tank tops with woodcut scenes of various tortures and other evil/satanic imagery that were distressed in just the right way, buuuut like I said, they were $150.
I feel like living in New York you get a sincerely distorted sense of what is ok to spend on clothing, you spend so long looking at $700 t shirts, that suddenly $150 sounds like quite a steal.
Some things just aren't worth bargain hunting for. Sunglasses for example. Just get the $500 pair because guess what, the $20 pair look like they cost $20. Everyone has their little things that they aren't happy substituting with a Forever21 knockoff, and that's fine, but some things are obvious.... which brings me back to $150 for a tank top. And let me be clear, I'm not saying I wouldn't spend $150 on a tank top, I'm saying that at present, I cannot afford to and so I would rather spend $500 on sunglasses and make my own shirts. Places like Bess are great for inspiration, but I can make my own woodcut shirt with a load of people being impaled... It is for those things that I cannot make or emulate that I save my pennies.
And here endeth the lesson in fashion economics, go forth and make your own shit!
(And yes, I know some of these pictures are from one of the '09 lookbooks, but I like it better than the '10 so far)